Township Residents Agree to County Radio Tower

Commissioner Patricia Kirkpatrick reads lease details from county executives at the commissioner's public meeting Thursday.

by Jonathan Weaver

A pair of local residents have negotiated with the county in its efforts toward a new radio network.

The county has negotiated a 99-year, $25,000 lease with Roland John and Arlene Melish of Sugarcreek Township to build a radio tower on their property.

Commissioner Patricia Kirkpatrick read an update from county executives regarding the deal at the commissioner’s public meeting Thursday.

“This site was selected by Motorola engineers as one of the necessary locations to provide 95 percent portable radio coverage to our police, firefighters and EMS crews,” Kirkpatrick said. “It will provide much-needed radio coverage on the new 800-megahertz radio network for those first responders.”

The tower will service calls to residents in Sugarcreek Township, Bradys Bend Township, Perrys Township, Washington Township, West Franklin Township and parts of East Franklin Township.

Kirkpatrick explained why the one-time cost was recommended.

“Typically in other leases the county has had in the past, some of our sites have had annual reoccurring costs. We thought it would be better in this negotiation in this tower site that this one-time cost for 99 years would be in the best interest of the taxpayers.”

The deal was approved by County Solicitor Chase McClister.

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